The first meeting of the subcommittee looking for housing for our Syrian friends confirmed what we expected: finding both temporary and permanent housing for our group of seven would be a significant challenge.
As an expression of the mission and vision of our church, Hope Without Borders is sponsoring twelve people from Syrian / Palestinian descent to Canada as they seek to escape the destructive civil war. Included in this group is a grandmother who is guardian of two of her grandchildren and her daughter with three children. The parents of the two children and the father of the three children either died or have gone missing. The grandmother, her daughter and five children very much want and need to stay together.
Temporary housing is required for the first month or two after arrival as we then search for more permanent housing. Calls and prayers for temporary housing for the group of seven went out.
A sponsorship group in Bowmanville approached Rehoboth CRC about the temporary use of the church’s home located next door to the church for when their sponsored group would arrive. Knowing that we were further along in the application process led me to ask Pastor John Wildeboer about the possibility of our using the home as temporary housing for our group of seven. John moved the request forward to the youth leaders, their Building and Grounds people and church leadership.
Our request was graciously accepted! This beautiful four bedroom home is available to us as temporary housing. Youth leaders Kim and Matt were more than willing to move the youth activities into the church building on a temporary basis. The plight of those who suffer is close to their hearts. The Christlike spirit in which this has all happened has truly been amazing and very encouraging. Prayers have been answered through the wonderful extension of community from those in our sister church. Thanks be to God!
Stay tuned for further developments for our Syrian friends as we trust that God will continue to provide for present and future needs.
- Fred
As an expression of the mission and vision of our church, Hope Without Borders is sponsoring twelve people from Syrian / Palestinian descent to Canada as they seek to escape the destructive civil war. Included in this group is a grandmother who is guardian of two of her grandchildren and her daughter with three children. The parents of the two children and the father of the three children either died or have gone missing. The grandmother, her daughter and five children very much want and need to stay together.
Temporary housing is required for the first month or two after arrival as we then search for more permanent housing. Calls and prayers for temporary housing for the group of seven went out.
A sponsorship group in Bowmanville approached Rehoboth CRC about the temporary use of the church’s home located next door to the church for when their sponsored group would arrive. Knowing that we were further along in the application process led me to ask Pastor John Wildeboer about the possibility of our using the home as temporary housing for our group of seven. John moved the request forward to the youth leaders, their Building and Grounds people and church leadership.
Our request was graciously accepted! This beautiful four bedroom home is available to us as temporary housing. Youth leaders Kim and Matt were more than willing to move the youth activities into the church building on a temporary basis. The plight of those who suffer is close to their hearts. The Christlike spirit in which this has all happened has truly been amazing and very encouraging. Prayers have been answered through the wonderful extension of community from those in our sister church. Thanks be to God!
Stay tuned for further developments for our Syrian friends as we trust that God will continue to provide for present and future needs.
- Fred
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